The Los Angeles Kings (36-21-9) landed in Minnesota (38-25-5) yesterday to take on the Wild. The Kings have been excellent, securing back-to-back wins with shutouts. With the playoffs so close, securing every single two points is crucial. In tonight's goalie lineup, Darcy Kuemper led his team out while Filip Gustavsson stood in net. It's a series of questions surrounding tonight's game: Can Kuemper secure his third shutout, and can the Kings maintain their momentum? Is tonight the night Andrei Kuzmenko gets his first goal as a King? 

Kempe Scores to Make It 1-0

With puck drop underway, it was a clash between the Wild and the Kings as they fought for possession of the puck. After five minutes of play, Adrian Kempe had lit the lamp to open the scoring, giving the Kings a 1-0 advantage. Brendan Gaunce and Jon Merrill were denied by a series of incredible saves from Kuemper. Throughout the first period, the team's balance and harmony resulted in strategic plays. Los Angeles showcased their active strength and quick speed throughout this period, and we looked forward to the second. 

Little extra Juice on that one 🚀 pic.twitter.com/70iA7rAsNl

— LA Kings (@LAKings) March 18, 2025

Wild Ties It Up

After twenty minutes of play, the Kings returned for the second frame and the Wild were quick to tie it up with a tip-in from Ryan Hartman. The Kings were determined to level the score and regain the lead. A too many men penalty was called on the Minnesota Wild at the 14:40 mark, giving LA a power play chance to score. Unable to capitalize on scoring opportunities, and marked by plenty of back-and-forth action, both the Kings and the Wild entered the second intermission tied at 1-1.

Minnesota Leads 2-1

The third period saw the Kings and Wild back on the ice, though the Kings displayed  less physicality and energy. At the 4:38 point, Mats Zuccarello scored with a wrist shot, putting the Wild ahead 2-1. In the final moments, the Kings pulled their goaltender, hoping for a chance to tie the game before the regulation buzzer. With just 56 seconds remaining in regulation, the Wild secured the victory as Marcus Johansson scored the game-winning goal, making the final tally, 3-1. While Los Angeles outshot Minnesota 29-22, the Kings' single goal highlights a need for improved consistent scoring. Changes are necessary. The Kings left the Wild's home ice without any points and headed to their next destination in Chicago. 

For more than two years, Colorado Avalanche star center Gabriel Landeskog has been sidelined by a catastrophic injury to his right knee. Understandably, there have been legitimate questions as to whether Landeskog would ever play another NHL game. But on Monday, the 32-year-old Swede participated in a full practice with the Avs, leading to  speculation he'd be returning to action in the near-future.

"He's looking good -- I thought he looked great in practice today," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar told NHL.com after practice Monday. "Obviously, just like sort of the flow-and-go non-contact stuff. Certainly, (it’s) nice to have him out there.

"(Landeskog is) making strides. Obviously, this rehab is not linear. There's lots of peaks and valleys in it, and sometimes it's two steps forward and one step back, but he's still making progress and obviously feeling comfortable enough to come out and join the team with certain drills. So, hopefully that continues and continues to grow and [he’s] working to a point of a return."

Landeskog's last game came on June 26, 2022 in a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. Landeskog will travel with the Avalanche during their upcoming three-game road trip to Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. But neither Landeskog nor the Avalanche would confirm he will resume his playing career anytime soon. 

Still, the emotional impact of Landeskog getting closer to a return has to provide a boost to Avalanche players who know full well how crucial Landeskog was to the organization for 11 NHL seasons. He may never play another game, but Landeskog's continuing impact on the Avs cannot be denied.

"It's really hard to say (when Landeskog wiil play again), but things are going great and it's certainly nice to have him back on the ice with our team," Bednar said. "Just the energy and sort of attitude that he brings to the ice, I think, helps everybody."

The Los Angeles Kings have reached a fork in the road. With the 2024-25 NHL post-season approaching, the possibility of a fourth consecutive first-round playoff meeting with the Edmonton Oilers looms. 

The Kings have always had to travel to Edmonton to begin the first-round series in their last three playoff meetings. They have a history of struggling on the road, as even this season, they are under .500 away from Los Angeles.  

The Kings must do what they can to alter their playoff fate. Securing the second seed in the Pacific Division and the home-ice advantage could be the difference-maker in ending their recent playoff struggles against Edmonton. 

Recent Playoff History: A Hurdle to Overcome

The Kings’ recent playoff series against the Oilers has been challenging. The two teams have met thrice in the first round since 2022, and Edmonton has won each time. 

2022: The Oilers clinched the series in seven games.​

2023: Edmonton advanced after six games.​

2024: The Oilers dominated, winning the series in five games.​

Historically, the Oilers have had the upper hand, with an 8-2 playoff series advantage over the Kings and an overall 36-18  postseason record in games.

However, the focal point of these losses has been Edmonton’s firepower on offense, led by Conor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. The two players have consistently capitalized on the defensive vulnerabilities in LA’s system, recording several big games across these series. They’ve also held a significant edge in special teams, specifically on the power play, where they have hurt the Kings the most.

The Importance of Home-Ice Advantage

One of the key aspects of this series has been that the Kings have been better on the road against the Oilers than at home. In all the meetings they’ve faced each other in the last three playoffs, the Kings have managed to get a 1-1 split on the road in Edmonton but have struggled to win at home, losing both games in LA last playoffs. But, this time, if the first two games are played in Crypto.com Arena, the Kings should have an advantage with their recent track record of winning games in Edmonton. 

Grabbing the second seed in the Pacific Division would give the Kings home-ice advantage in the first round against the Oilers and could shift the series' balance. The home-ice advantage is always significant, especially in the playoffs, where the crowd is in your favor, boosting the energy into the player's games. 

Current Standings: A Tight Race

As of March 17, 2025, the Pacific Division standings are: 

1. Vegas Golden Knights: 39-20-8 (86 Points)

2. Edmonton Oilers: 39-24-4 (82 Points)

3. Los Angeles Kings: 36-20-9 (81 Points)

The Kings are one point behind the Oilers and have played fewer games, so the race for the second seed—and that coveted home-ice advantage—is intensely competitive.

It all comes down to how the Kings finish their season. Their next two games, which will be on the road against the Wild and Blackhawks, can elevate them to the second seed if they can grab both games and hope the Oilers at least lose one of their next three. 

Smart Move: To Confront or Avoid the Oilers?

The Kings have a choice about how they want to position themselves when the playoffs begin. But eventually, they're going to face the Oilers or another team that may give them matchup problems, so it’s better to get them while you're healthy and fresh. 

Still, with the moves they made at the deadline, improving their depth on offense and defense, the Kings’ shouldn’t worry about who they face in the playoffs; they should game plan on how to beat them and take it game by game. 

Pursue the Second Seed: The Kings would secure a home-ice advantage by overtaking the Oilers for a probable first-round playoff series. That can be significant in the context of recent postseason losses to Edmonton without home ice.

Shoot against a Different Foe: Alternatively, the Kings might set themselves up to play another team in the first round, such as the Vegas Golden Knights or a wild-card team, by potentially bypassing the Oilers altogether. However, this comes with risks involved, as maneuvering for the position is never a walk in the park or assured of better matchups that can carry you to a deep playoff run; it can end with the same results.  

Coaching and Roster Depth: A New Hope

There are several reasons why the Kings are better set up this year to handle the Oilers and why they should not duck them. 

Goaltending Greatness: Darcy Kuemper has been outstanding, recording multiple shutouts in recent games, such as a 3-0 victory over the Washington Capitals on March 14. ​Also, he was just named the NHL 1st Star of the Week, showcasing what an asset he will be come playoff time for the Kings. 

You're a star, Darce 🌟 https://t.co/LWshUqQPOBpic.twitter.com/8p3f1MwsT9

— LA Kings (@LAKings) March 17, 2025

Emerging Offense Stars: The Young Forward Quinton Byfield has been scorching hot, currently on a six-game goal streak, contributing crucial goals in their five-game winning streak. 

PK Dominance: The Kings' penalty kill has been exceptional. They successfully extinguished all eight power plays against the New York Islanders on March 12.

​

Quinton Byfield's currently on a SIX game goal streak.

(via @realapp_) pic.twitter.com/uNzuIxKlDd

— PuckEmpire (@puckempire) March 16, 2025

Conclusion: Taking the Challenge

While the prospect of facing the Oilers in the playoffs brings memories of past letdowns, the Kings can rewrite the script. By prioritizing their quest for the second seed and subsequent home-ice benefit, the Kings can place themselves in the best position possible for post-season success.

Improved goaltending, emerging offensive studs, and stellar special teams offer the Kings all the ammunition to pound the playoff failures in the past and advance beyond round one.​

The coming weeks will be crucial as the Kings look to climb up the table and prepare for what lies ahead. 

After the 2024 NHL trade deadline, Pittsburgh Penguins POHO and GM Kyle Dubas traded captain Sidney Crosby's best winger in Jake Guentzel. It seemed to be the first domino to fall in an effort to sell off the team's marketable, talented assets to begin pushing toward the future.

Luckily for Crosby - and the Penguins - there wasn't a repeat of the same thing at the 2025 trade deadline.

Crosby's "new" best winger this season is Rickard Rakell, who is in the midst of a career year having played with the captain for most of it. Rakell has 31 goals and 59 points in 68 games on the season, and that's second on the team only to his linemate and one of hockey's best and most consistent players.

And having the consistency together as linemates this season - the two spent only a few weeks on separate lines at the very beginning of the season - has helped both of them find even more chemistry than they've had in previous campaigns, when they played together on an irrregular basis.

"I think any time you’re together with linemates for an extended period of time, usually, it’s a good thing," Crosby said. "That’s always a good sign. Just trying to read off of one another, you know, you’re talking about certain plays, and then, obviously, the power play, we’re together there... so, that can carry over to five-on-five sometimes, too.

"It definitely helps, and you want to get better as the season goes on. You play different teams, and you want to find a way to be productive.”

Rickard Rakell buries the dish from Sidney Crosby, giving Crosby his 50th assist of the season!#LetsGoPenspic.twitter.com/0eKkb3AgGI

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) March 15, 2025

And Rakell, too, knows that when his name is on the lineup card next to Crosby and Bryan Rust, he can expect to get some good scoring chances throughout the course of a game.

“I think it helps to be playing with each other for a long time," Rakell said. "And, for me, just playing with Sid and Rusty... I know I’m going to get a few good looks every game, so I just try to stay ready for it.”

And he has, in fact, been ready for it. The duo has combined for 54 goals and 132 points on the season - including 12 goals and 26 points in the 12 games since the 4 Nations Face-off break - and they don't appear to be slowing down.

They've also contributed an expected goals for share of 54.63 percent together, which is the best expected goals share for any regular forward duo on the Penguins' roster.

This Dynamic Duo has combined for 130 points so far this season... 🐧

How many points will they collectively finish with? 💬

NHL x @massmutualpic.twitter.com/w5IwVYKvKt

— NHL (@NHL) March 14, 2025

When the duo plays away from each other? Rakell has an expected goals share of just 44.61 percent, while Crosby has a mark of 46.37 percent.

A few times in the past, head coach Mike Sullivan has referenced Rakell's ability to "make something out of nothing." One of the things - aside from his lethal shot - that makes Rakell a dangerous player is his ability to expose the soft areas of the ice.

Crosby agrees.

“I think just being aware and finding that open ice," Crosby said. "He’s got a great shot, really good hands... so he’s able to maneuver the puck pretty well in small space and doesn’t need a lot of time to get a shot off. He’s proven that a lot this year.”

As for what makes Crosby so dangerous? Well, it's more than documented at this point how high-IQ and lethal a playmaker Crosby is. But, for Rakell, Crosby's consistency and ability to sustain such a high level of play in a general sense is remarkable.

The Penguins' captain is just seven points shy of setting the NHL's all-time point-per-game seasons record at 20, which would break Wayne Gretzky's previous mark of 19.

“I mean, it’s so impressive to be doing it for, what is it, 20 times?" Rakell said. "He’s one of the best to ever play this game. He shows why. It’s such a hard game, and for him to do it every year, it’s pretty nuts.”

Crosby and Rakell's chemistry this season is pretty nuts, too. And thanks to Dubas's decision to keep the duo intact - at least for the rest of the season, and, perhaps, beyond - it will only have the potential to reach even higher heights.

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!   

Reilly Smith is right back at home In Vegas after a short stint with the New York Rangers.

The Rangers traded Smith to the Vegas Golden Knights just one day before the NHL Trade Deadline after he played 58 games for the Blueshirts. 

Smith was acquired in the offseason by the Rangers in the hope of being the missing link on a line alongside Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. 

The 33-year-old forward didn’t exactly live up to expectations in New York and with the team not in a position to keep their unrestricted free agents without getting any assets or players in return, they decided to trade Smith.

That’s why the Rangers and Golden Knights were actually in contact for a “period of time” having trade conversations before both teams pulled the trigger on a deal.

“We had had talks all week and decided that Reilly was our guy,” Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon said.

Smith spent six seasons with the Golden Knights and won a Stanley Cup in Vegas, so it’s safe to say he was ecstatic to return to the place where he experienced so many fond memories.

“When you get traded, there’s always so much new change, not just the stuff on the ice, but everything around it,” Smith said. “So to be able to come back here and have so much familiarity, it definitely feels like coming home a little bit.

As a member of the Rangers, Smith recorded 10 goals, 19 assists and 29 points while averaging 15:36 minutes per game.

Flyers shut out for 7th time as power play drops to 0 for 23 in March originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Flyers were blanked for a second consecutive game as they fell to the Lightning, 2-0, Monday night at Amalie Arena.

Coming off a 5-0 loss Saturday night to the Hurricanes, which finished a dreadful 1-6-0 homestand, the Flyers couldn’t get things going on the road.

The power play let them down, while Tampa Bay iced the game with an empty-netter.

The Flyers (28-33-8) have been shut out seven times, the most in John Tortorella’s three seasons as the team’s head coach. With 13 games still to go, Tortorella’s club has matched its regulation loss total from last season (38-33-11).

The Flyers went 2-1-0 against the Lightning (39-23-5) this season. Their two wins came in the shootout.

• The power play hurt the Flyers again, coming up empty in 8:10 minutes of time Monday night. The Flyers had a four-minute man advantage in the second period and didn’t record a shot.

The club’s power play is 0 for 23 in March. In the last 25 games, it’s 5 for 57.

The Flyers’ rebuilding trades of four forwards in the span of five weeks haven’t helped a team that was already inconsistent offensively.

Travis Konecny has one goal and 10 assists in the last 22 games. Matvei Michkov and Owen Tippett have gone scoreless in the last five games.

More: Tortorella defends Thompson, says Flyers won’t shy away from power play criticism

• Ivan Fedotov gave the Flyers an excellent chance to win, making 21 saves on 22 shots.

The only goal he allowed was on a first-period breakaway for Nikita Kucherov, the NHL’s third-leading scorer (95 points). Konecny mishandled the puck in the offensive zone with the action at 4-on-4 and Kucherov jumped on it.

Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay’s 2018-19 Vezina Trophy winner and two-time Stanley Cup champion, stopped all 21 of the Flyers’ shots.

• Rasmus Ristolainen missed a third straight game with an upper-body injury. Garnet Hathaway hasn’t played in March as he recovers from a blindsided hit he took at the end of February.

• The Flyers are scheduled to practice Wednesday in Florida before heading to Washington, D.C., for a matchup Thursday with the Capitals (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP).

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